BTS Jimin's "MUSE" Makes K-Pop History with 40-Week Spotify US Chart Run
Solo album breaks new ground as Korean artist dominates American streaming despite military service
BTS member Jimin has achieved a groundbreaking milestone that no other K-pop solo artist has reached before. His second album "MUSE" became the first album by a Korean soloist to spend 40 weeks on Spotify's Weekly Top Albums USA chart, as confirmed in April 2025.
The achievement is particularly remarkable since Jimin has been serving mandatory military duty since December 2023, with no promotional activities to support the album's continued success.
Chart-Topping Track Powers Success
"Who," the album's title track, has generated over 393 million filtered streams on Spotify US, surpassing Drake's "Jimmy Cooks" to become the 93rd most-streamed song in US Spotify history - the first K-pop track to crack the top 100.
The song made history by becoming the first K-pop solo track to hit #1 on Spotify's US Daily Chart without Western collaborations. It also spent 33 weeks on Billboard's Hot 100, setting the longest run record for any K-pop soloist.
Record-Breaking Streaming Numbers
"MUSE" reached 3 billion global Spotify streams faster than any Korean album, achieving the milestone in just 340 days. The album also holds the distinction of being the first Korean solo album to spend a full year (52 weeks) on Spotify's Weekly Global Top Albums Chart.
Jimin has become the most successful K-pop artist on Spotify US charts, with over 550 million cumulative streams - a record that encompasses both his solo work and BTS contributions.
'Jimerica' Phenomenon
Fans have coined the term "Jimerica" to describe Jimin's exceptional popularity in America. His dominance extends beyond streaming - a recent solo exhibition topped US bestseller charts, earning him the nickname "King of Jimerica" from media outlets.
The success is particularly notable given Jimin achieved these milestones without featured collaborations with Western artists or extensive promotional campaigns in the US market.
Military Service Success Story
While serving in the South Korean military, Jimin continues breaking his own records. "Who" recently surpassed his previous song "Like Crazy" to become the longest-charting K-pop solo track on Spotify US, extending the pattern of "Jimin breaking Jimin's records".
Jimin is expected to complete his military service and return to active music promotion in June 2025, setting up anticipation for even greater achievements upon his return.
The sustained success of "MUSE" demonstrates that authentic artistry and strong fan connections can maintain chart dominance even without traditional promotional support, marking a new chapter in K-pop's global expansion.
